atw: Re: Mouses??
- From: Howard.Silcock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:06:34 +1000
I'm finding the dynamics of this discussion more interesting than the
topic itself.
1. I raised the topic with the observation that many people are asserting
that the plural is 'mouses' (in computer contexts). I wondered aloud why
this should be so.
2. Some people said they objected to 'mice' and suggested alternatives. I
asked why they objected - and got no answer.
3. Various people sent quotes from dictionaries. All (except the IBM Word Usage
database quoted by Stuart) say that, in computer contexts, the plural 'mouses'
is
ALSO found. [Yes, I know - that's why I raised the topic.]
4. Bruce somehow concludes from his quotes that I am 'wrong' and advises
me to start writing 'mouses' too. [Hmm, I read that word 'also' as meaning
that 'mouses' is an ALTERNATIVE to 'mice'.]
Underlying the discussion seems to be an assumption that what we think
about this is irrelevant and we should just shut up and do what we're told
by the lords and masters who write the dictionaries.
Come on, guys - we're technical writers, aren't we? Who is better
positioned to comment on technical terminology? The dictionary-makers only
put technical terms there because people who write technical documents
start using them - people like us.
Howard
Howard Silcock
Technical Writer
ADI Limited
Electronic Systems
1 Phipps Close, Deakin, ACT 2600
Ph. +61 2 6234 6075
Fax +61 2 6234 6011
Email: howard.silcock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web page: www.adi-limited.com.au
"I-Ashley, Bruce" <bruce.ashley@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
29/09/2006 11:09 AM
Please respond to austechwriter
To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
cc:
Subject: atw: Re: Mouses??
Sorry Howard, you are wrong in this and whether you get irritated or
not, in computer terms, 'mouses' is correct usage.
Forget Wikipedia and the many other on-line references that also show
'mouses' as being correct, a quick look at the SOED (4th Ed.) shows the
following:
mouse, Pl. mice, in sense 4 also mouses
Sense 4: Any of various objects regarded as resembling a mouse in shape
or appearance; spec. (b) 'Computing' a small hand-held device moved over
a flat surface to produce a corresponding movement of a cursor or arrow
on a VDU, usu. Having fingertip controls for selecting a function or
entering a command.
So, unless your group of electronic mouses eats cheese, I'd suggest
using 'mice' is probably not the best way forward.
Cheers,
Bruce Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Howard Silcock [mailto:howard.silcock@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 9:29 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Mouses??
I'm getting more and more irritated by people who tell me that the
plural of
'mouse', in computer contexts, is 'mouses'. Who makes these ridiculous
decisions? The attempts I've seen to justify make it seem all the more
ridiculous - how on earth can anyone say that 'mouse' is a 'headless
noun'
(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_plural)? (At least they didn't
say
it was tailless!)
Has anyone been given 'mouses' as an official plural in their 'house
style'?
If so, I urge you to rebel and stamp out this ridiculous usage (no, not
stamp on the poor mouse). Let's hear it for the mice!
Howard
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